Sandal with removable upper therefor



March 28, 1961 T. L. GALLAWAY 2,976,623

SANDAL WITH REMOVABLE UPPER THEREFOR Filed June 20, 1958 INVENTOR 75 M615. 432cm) ATT RNEY finite SANDAL WITH REMOVABLE UPPER THEREFOR Thomas L. Gallaway, 31 E. 72nd St., New York, N.Y.

Filed June 20, 1958, Ser. No. 743,243

4 Claims. (Cl. 36-115) This invention relates to sandals with removable uppers, and more particularly to a novel fastening arrangement, whereby uppers, while firmly and attractively connected to the sandal, may be easily and quickly replaced.

There are, of course, numerous reasons for removing the upper, or strap portion of a sandal, such as for cleaning, necessary replacement due to'wear, etc. Another might be to permit the interchange of uppers, straps, which differ in color and/ or design, thus permitting the wearer to achieve the appearance of an entirely new sandal. This is particularly important when it is recognized that the uppers, or straps, are very inexpensive, usually being no more than inexpensive ribbons, straps, or elastic tapes.

It is manifest that the safe, comfortable and attractive wearing of the sandal requires a firm connection between it and the upper; and the present invention seeks to attain these objectives while, at the same time, providing interconnecting instrumentalities which are not only inexpensive, but quick and easy to operate.

The invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and are particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative of some of several different ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective illustrating a sandal made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, and which includes a strap which extends around the rearward portion of the foot of the wearer;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view, taken on the line 22 of Figure l, and illustrating a novel device for securing the strap to the edge of the sole of the sandal;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view of the general type of Figure 3, but illustrating a form of intermediate securing device which may be utilized for receiving the intermediate portion of the foot-embracing strap.

Figure 5 is a view of the same general type as that of Figure 3, but which illustrates a modified form of fastening arrangement; and

Figure 6 is a perspective illustrating a modified form of sandal with a foreshortened strap arrangement.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 2 designates a sandal embodying the teachings of the present invention and comprising the usual sole and heel and with an unobstructed upper surface for supporting the ball, arch and heel portions of the human foot.

In that form of the invention which is shown in Figure 1, the rearmost portion of the sandal 2 is provided with a vertically disposed loop 4 which extends in close 2,976,623 Patented Mar. 28, 1961 parallelism with the Achilles tendon of the foot of the wearer; the purpose of said loop being to receive a portion of a generally transversely extending strap 6 which will be more specifically referred to hereinafter. Extending from each side of the sole of the sandal 2, and at positions which will be adjacent the rearward portions of the toes of the wearer is a member generally indicated at 8. In this embodiment (as shown in Figure l), but a single pair of members 8 may be utilized, while two pairs thereof may be employed in other forms of the invention as will later appear. In any event, each of the members 8 comprises a shank 9 which extends into the adjacent side edge of thesole of the sandal and is suitably secured against displacement. The outer end of the shank 9 is tubular as shown; and in it, there is disposed a rod whose ends project therefrom and extend at right-angles to connect with a tubular fastening element 12. According to this construction and arrangement, there is formed a narrow rectangular slot 10 which extends in a direction which is generally parallel with the major axis of the sandal, with the outer edge of said slot being defined by the lower face of the aforementioned tubular fastening element 12.

As indicated hereinbefore, the present invention contemplates members 8 which are disposed at various positions with respect to the sole of the sandal 2; and the tubular fastening elements 12 which form part of said members may differ somewhat in construction.

According to one form, the tubular fastening element 12 has on its outer surface a longitudinal slot 16 which extends completely through its side wall and throughout its length; the rearward end of both the tubular fastening element 12 and longitudinal slot 16 being closed, as shown at 17. In utilizing this form of the invention, one, or both, of the ends of the strap (or straps) 6 may carry a tubular metallic end binding 18 (see Figures 2 and 3) which is adapted for telescopic relationship within the tubular fastening element 12, with the adjacent body portion of the strap itself occupying the slot 16. In this manner, then, the end of the strap 6 may be secured to the edge If the sole of the sandal 2 in firm but quickly detachable relationship, it simply being necessary to endwise insert the tubular metallic end binding 18 in the tubular fastening element 12; the overtravel of the tubular metallic binding being prevented by the closure 17 which serves as a stop.

According to another form of the invention, the tubular fastening elements 12 may possess an unbroken side wall. as shown in Figure 5. In such instance. the end of the strap 6 carries a U-shaped fastening member 24, one leg of which comprises a loop for securing the extremity of the strap 6, with the other leg (of the U) defining an elongated pin and being free for endwise insertion in the tubular fastening element 12.

Referring to Figure l, the numeral 14 designates a pair of members which extend from each side of the sole of the sandal, but at positions which are more rearwardly of the sandal than are the members 8 which are shown in the same figure. That is,'in Figure 1, the rearward oppositely disposed, outwardly extending members 14 are shown as disposed adjacent that portion of the sandal which supports the ball of the foot.

As shown more specifically in Figure 4, each of the members '14 simply comprises, in addition to the shank 9, a rectangular wire loop; providing a longitudinal slot 16 as described hereinbefore, but deleting either of the previously described types of tubular fastening element 12 (Le, slotted or unslotted).

The size and shape of the longitudinal slot 10 of both the members 8 and the members 14 must be such as will permit it to receive the strap 6, as well as the fastening element (18 or 24) which is secured to its extremity. This, of course, permits not only the members 14 to secure the intermediate portion of the strap 6, but also the members 8, thus enabling the straps to be arranged in various ways.

In the arrangement of Figure l, a single strap 6 is employed, its extremities being attached to the tubular elements 12 of the forwardly positioned members 8, with the intermediate portions of the strap criss-crossed and threaded through the loop 4 at the rear of the sandal, as well as through the intermediately disposed members 14 which are located adjacent the ball of the foot of the wearer.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that, in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, members 8 may be substituted for the members 14, with the same arrangement of strap, the strap being threaded through the longitudinal slot 10 in either case.

According to another embodiment, two pairs of members 8 may be employed, with one pair being disposed adjacent that portion of the sandal which supports the ball of the foot of the wearer, and the other pair positioned adjacent the rearward portion of the arch of the foot of the wearer. In this such an embodiment, two straps 6 may be employed, the same being cries-crossed with their forward and rearward extremities attached to the tubular elements of the forwardly and rearwardly pairs of members 8.

While I have shown and described several specific embodiments of the present invention, it will be readily understood that I do not wish to be limited exactly thereto, since various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An article of footwear comprising foot retaining means, a sole, a shank secured to said sole and extending laterally to a side thereof, a tube extending in substantial parallelism with the aforementioned side edge of said sole, means for connecting said tube to said shank, said means providing a rectangular aperture which is disposed outwardly with respect to said sole and which extends in substantial parallelism therewith, said foot retaining means including a strap, said strap being of such crosssectional size and shape as to permit of its being received in said aperture, and means carried by one end of said strap for telescopic engagement with said tube.

2. An article of footwear comprising foot retaining means, a sole, a shank secured to said sole and extending laterally to a side edge thereof, a tube extending in substantial parallelism with the aforementioned side edge of said sole, means for hingedly connecting said tube to said shank, said means providing a rectangular aperture which is disposed outwardly with respect to said sole and which extends in substantial parallelism therewith, said foot retaining means including a strap, said strap 'being of such cross-sectional size and shape as to permit of its being received in said aperture, and means carried by one end of said strap for telescopic engagement with said tube.

3. An article of footwear comprising foot retaining means, a sole, a shank secured to and projecting laterally from a side edge of saidsole, a tube extending in substantial parallelism with the aforementioned side edge of said sole, means for connecting said tube to said shank, said means providing a rectangular aperture which is disposed outwardly with respect to said sole and which extends in substantial parallelism therewith, said tube having a longitudinally extending slot, said foot retaining means including a strap, said strap being of such cross sectional size and shape as to permit of its being received in either said aperture or said slot, and means carried by one end of said strap for telescopic engagement wit-h said tube.

4. An article of footwear comprising foot retaining means, a sole, a fastening member carried by, and projecting laterally from, the side of said sole, said fastening member having a rectangular slot disposed outwardly from said sole and extending in substantial parallelism with the adjacent edge of said sole, a tube carried by said fastening member and disposed outwardly of, and in substantial parallelism with, its aforementioned longitudinal slot; said foot retaining means including a strap, said strap being of such size and shape as to permit of its being received in said rectangular slot, and an elongate pin secured to one end of said strap, the major portion of said pin being in spaced parallelism with the end of said strap and adapted for ready telescopic movement into and out of said tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,066,732 Kunz Jan. 5, 1937 2,112,613 Waxelbaum Mar. 29, 1938 2,368,314 Marx Ian. 30, 1945 2,761,224 Gardiner Sept. 4, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 73,254 Switzerland Sept. 1, 1916 108,121 Australia July 28, 1939 974,149 France Sept. 27, 1950 1,054,736 France Oct. 7, 1953 

